Fastener



Dec. 2, 1924. 1,517,995

J. F. LANGENAU ET AL FASTENER Filed June 5, 1924 INVENTOR.

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JACOB F. LANGENA'U AND RUDOLPH M. YEMNIKER, F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNORSTO THE LANGENAU MANUFACTURING COLMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A COR-PORATION OF OHIO.

FASTENER.

Application filed. June 3,

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JACOB F. LANGENAU and RUDOLPH M. X'EMNIKER,citizens of the United States, and residents of Cleveland, county ofCuyahoga, State of Ohio, respectively, have jointly invented a new anduseful Improvement in Fasteners, of which the following is aspecification, the principle of the invention being herein explained andthe best mode in which we have contemplated applying that principle, soas to distinguish it from other inventions.

This invention relates to fasteners. More particularly it comprises afastening device adapted to engage a keeper pin or loop and draw thesame toward the point of attachment of said fastener.

Latches of this general type have been applied as window fasteners andthe like, but in most instances involve more or less complicated partsexpensive to manufacture and difiicult to maintain in repair underconditions of constant use.

The object of the present invention is to improve fasteners of thecharacter referred to and to simplify and reduce the cost of themanufacture of the same. To the accomplishment of the foregoing andrelated ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafterfully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings Fig. l is a front elevation showing a fastenerand keeper applied to a pair of hinged elements, the fastener beingshown in latched position; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device shown inFig. 1, the fastener being shown in section; Fig. 3 is a front elevationof the fastener, the parts being shown in open position; and Fig. 4: isan elevation of the latch arm of the fastener, showing the details ofits construction.

As is clearly shown in the drawings, the fastener comprises a latch arm1 having a hook 2 at its forward end and provided with an enlargedsubstantially circular rearward portion 3 provided with an elongatedslot 4 positioned centrally of its up per portion. Said enlarged portionof the 1924. Serial No. 717,544.

provide a similar arc-shaped shoulder adjacent the rearward edge of saidenlarged portion. At a point intermediate between the position of saidhook and said enlarged portion, the latch arm is provided with adome-like projection 7 pressed upward fromthe body thereof, and betweenthe position of said projection and the enlarged portion adjacent thelower edge an outwardly projecting lug 8 is formed. The slotted portionof the latch arm is adapted to fit over a pin or stud 9 secured to onemember of the structure to be latched, and said pin also serves as apivot for the actuating lever 11 of said fastener. Said actuating leveris of somewhat shorter length than the latch arm and is provided at itsforward end with a right angled extension 12 adapted to serve as a thumbpiece. Said actuating lever is provided with an en larged portion at itsrearward end off-set from the median line of the body thereof andprovided with an aperture 13 adjacent the forward upper portion thereof.Said aperture is designed to fit over the pivot pin 9, which co-actswith the slot 4 in the latch arm to limit the transverse movement ofsaid arm. A semi-spherical recess 10 is formed in the rearward face ofthe actuating lever immediately below the extension 12, said recessbeing adapted to engage over the dome-like projection 7 formedon thelatch arm when the parts are in latched position, thereby preventingunlatching of the fastener through accidental movement of the parts.

At an intermediate position along the lower edge of the body of saidactuating lever, a notch 14: is provided, said notch being adapted tofit over the lug 8 when the fastener is in latched position. Theenlarged portion of the actuating lever is provided with a cam face 15at its rearward edge adapted to co-operate with the arcshaped flange 6of the latch arm, and adjacent the under side of its forward edge it isprovided with a second cam face 16 adapted to co-act with the shoulder 5formed on the latch arm to move the latter to unlatching positionpreparatory to the lifting of the hook from the keeper.

Immediately below the rearward cam face of the actuating lever ashoulder 17 is provided, which is adapted to abut against the rearwardedge of a flange extension 18 on the latch arm, which forms acontinuation at the lower edge of the arc-shaped shoulder. The shoulder17, when brought into contact with the flange 18, thus serves to raisethe latch arm from engagement with the keeper. The keeper 19 may be ofany preferred form, being shown in the drawing as an apertured plateattached to one of the adjacent elements of the structure to be latched.

From the description of the construction of the device the operationwill be readily apparent. WVhen it is desired to unlatch the device, theactuating lever is moved upwardly and the cam face 16 rides against theshoulder 5 and moves the latch arm forwardly so that the nose of thehook will clear the adjacent portion of the keeper. Continued movementof the actuating lever will bring the shoulder 17 against the rearwardedge of the extension flange 18 and will raise the hooked end of thefastener upwardly so as to entirely clear the loop of the keeper. WVhenit is desired to close the fastener, the hook is lowered by gravity toengage within the loop of the keeper and after it is seated therein,continued downward movement of the actuating lever causes the cam face15 to press against the arc-shaped flange 6 and move the latch armrearwardly until the lower edge of the lever abuts against the lug 8 andthe recess on the actuating arm is seated over the dome-like projectionon the latch arm.

As will be obvious, the device, while composed of few parts and easilymanufactured, is one of relatively great strength and durability andthere are no small parts liable to be fractured or to develop weaknessor lost motion through continual use.

Other modes of applying the principle of our invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as ourinvention 1. A fastener comprising alatch arm and an actuating leverpivotally mounted upon a single point of support, a hook formed at theforward end of said latch arm and an elongated. slot adjacent itsrearward end, a pair of cam shoulders of arc-shaped outline positionedadjacent the ends of said slot, a pair of cam faces formed on saidactuating lever for co-operating with said shoulders to shift said latcharm transversely of said point of support, a radial shoulder at the endof one of said arc-shaped shoulders on said latch arm, and a secondradial shoulder at the end of one of said cam faces on said actuatinglever for co-operation with said first-named radial shoulder to raisesaid latch arm after the same has been shifted transversely of its pointof support.

2. A fastener comprising a latch arm and an actuating lever pivotallymounted upon a single point of support, a hook formed at the forward endof said latch arm and an elongated slot adjacent its rearward end, apair of cam shoulders of arc-shaped outline positioned adjacent the endsof said slot, a pair of cam faces formed on said actuating lever for co-operating with said shoulders to shift said latch arm transversely ofsaid point of support, a pair of co-acting shoulders on said latch armand actuating lever, respectively, for moving said latch arm rotatably,and a projection and recess formed on said latch arm and actuatinglever, respectively, for holding said parts in engagement when thefastener is in latched position.

Signed by us, this 2d day of June, 192%.

JACOB F. LANGENAU. RUDOLPH. M. YEMNIKER.

